NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – February 26, 2024
Red Wings forward Patrick Kane makes a triumphant return to Chicago, the Lightning’s Nikita Kucherov reaches 100 points, Sidney Crosby leads the Penguins over the Flyers, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.
NHL.COM: Patrick Kane set up the tying goal and scored the winner in overtime as the Detroit Red Wings defeated the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2. It was Kane’s first game against his former club in Chicago since he was traded to the New York Rangers last February. Alex DeBrincat had a goal and an assist for the surging Red Wings (32-20-6) as they’ve won five straight games and hold the first Eastern wild-card berth with 70 points. MacKenzie Entwistle and Nick Foligno scored for the 15-39-5 Blackhawks.
Detroit Red Wings forward Patrick Kane (NHL Images).
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Kane spent 16 seasons with the Blackhawks and is among the greatest players in franchise history, helping them win three Stanley Cups. He received a lengthy standing ovation as the Blackhawks honored him with a video tribute during a TV timeout and another after scoring the winning goal.
Kane’s return coincided with the Blackhawks honoring another great as they retired Hall-of-Famer Chris Chelios’ No. 7 in a pregame ceremony. Chelios spent nine seasons in Chicago from 1990-91 to 1998-99, winning two of his three Norris Trophies there.
Tampa Bay Lightning winger Nikita Kucherov became the first player this season to reach 100 points in a 4-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils. Kucherov had a goal and three assists as he sits atop the scoring race with 102 points. With a record of 32-23-5, the Lightning hold the second Eastern Conference wild-card spot with 69 points. Tyler Toffoli netted his 25th goal of the season for the Devils (29-25-4) as they’ve lost three of their last four games.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: With 38 goals, Kucherov is poised to eclipse his career-best of 41 and is 26 points away from his career high of 128 points set in 2018-19.
Devils head coach Lindy Ruff took full responsibility for his club’s struggles this season but it’s not solely his fault. The Devils have been walloped by injuries while their goaltending is among the league’s worst.
The Pittsburgh Penguins held off the Philadelphia Flyers by a score of 7-6. Sidney Crosby had a goal and three assists while Bryan Rust had two goals and an assist before leaving the game in the third period with an upper-body injury as the Penguins improved to 26-21-8. Scott Laughton and Tyson Foerster each had two goals and an assist for the Flyers (30-22-7) as they sit third in the Metropolitan Division with 67 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale left the game in the second period favoring his left arm following a hard hit from Penguins forward Jansen Harkins. There was no update regarding his status following the game.
An overtime goal by Kyle Connor lifted the Winnipeg Jets to a 4-3 win over the Arizona Coyotes, handing the latter their 12th straight loss. Connor finished with two goals, Mark Scheifele had a goal and three assists while Josh Morrissey collected three assists for the 36-15-5 Jets (77 points) as they’ve won three straight and sit one point behind the Central Division-leading Dallas Stars. Nick Schmaltz tallied twice for the 23-29-5 Coyotes.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Coyotes winger Clayton Keller left the game early in the second period with an undisclosed injury. He leads the club with 52 points in 57 games.
The Nashville Predators strengthened their hold on the final Western Conference wild-card berth by doubling up the Anaheim Ducks 4-2. Filip Forsberg had a goal and an assist while goaltender Kevin Lankinen stopped 29 shots for the 32-25-2 Predators (66 points) as they’ve won five straight and sit four points up on the St. Louis Blues. Brett Leason had a goal and an assist for the 20-35-3 Ducks.
Columbus Blue Jackets goaltender Elvis Merzlikins made 38 saves as his club upset the New York Rangers 4-2, snapping the latter’s 10-game win streak. Dmitri Voronkov, Kirill Marchenko and Jack Roslovic each had a goal and an assist for the 19-28-10 Blue Jackets. Artemi Panarin netted his 33rd goal of the season for the Rangers (39-17-3) as they remain in second place in the overall standings.
The Buffalo Sabres have won three straight games for the first time this season with a 3-2 upset of the Carolina Hurricanes. Casey Mittelstadt tallied the winning goal in the shootout while Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen made 30 saves for the 27-27-4 Sabres. Martin Necas had a goal and an assist for the Hurricanes (34-18-6) as they remain in second place in the Metropolitan Division with 74 points.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Before this game the NHL department of player safety fined Hurricanes center Jesperi Kotkaniemi $5,000.00 for elbowing Dallas Stars defenseman Joel Hanley on Saturday.
Great 5 points , 4 officially, by Crosby and a game they had to win in regulation. Don’t know why they changed Letang’s goal to unassisted???
That said, defensive nightmare by Penguins and it puts them closer to playoffs , screwing up decisions. A loss in regulation would have basically closed the door. Analysts keep tracking how far out of last Wildcard spot Penguins are. That is NOT where they should be tracking. It is Metro 3rd that is the shot, if any.
I don’t see Penguins catching Detroit or Tampa Bay. Flyers apparently are going to be sellers, 7 points ahead of Penguins, but Penguins have 4 games in hand. A long shot yes. But possible, and their best shot.
Regardless, trading Guentzel is a must. Penguins can’t afford his well deserved cap next year and for at least 6 years; can’t afford to let him walk for nothing.
I know Oilers have been mentioned as high on the Guentzel list, but with Vegas LTIRs and their all “ all in” approach, I propose the following trade.
To Vegas: Guentzel @25% (Penguins retain 50%, Coyotes retain 25%), and Accairi
To Coyotes: 3rd (Penguins ‘25), Gruden, Ruhweedel
To Penguins : 1st (Vegas ‘24), Roy (from Vegas) , Howden (from Vegas); Brown (From Coyotes) ; O’Brien (from Coyotes)
The Key to the deal is Vegas biting at the chomps come playoffs with Eichel/Guentzel combo; they also save Cap
Yotes gain a 3rd and a prospect and actually lower cash commitments , at the expense of Cap they won’t need and players they won’t need
Penguins obviously aren’t replacing Guentzel, but got younger, way bigger, way stronger, much tougher, better defensively overall, gained two players with term ( with size and strength, and much younger than current team average age); AND a 1st (but did lose a 3rd and a prospect)
Penguins had $5.8 M in ANNUAL Cap (from big team roster) go out the door, and $6.2 M in ANNUAL Cap come in (note O’Brien either to WBS or replaces Phillips on 23 man roster)…. $400 K annual difference …. Only $100 K at Deadline
This deal , to me, is irrelevant to how the Penguins do on their upcoming West Coast swing
Vegas does not need al that retained salary if Stone is out till the playoffs.
Vegas just gives Roy, a 1st, and a prospect (Ivan Morozov), for Jake (1/2 retained salary)
Not to mention NOBODY can point to a convoluted, multiple-player 3-way deal of that magnitude since the advent of the cap.
Agree they don’t NEED that extra space; but do WANT that space for extra moves (D depth??)
1st and Roy are in both our suggestions
Yours has 1/2 retained and Morozov (very good prospect IMHO BTW); but Morozov vs Howden…. Knights maybe add a mid rounder
That would still mean same players in the Penguins/Coyotes flips but maybe a 4th instead a 5th (Penguins to Coyotes)
I still think better move is more space for Vegas; keep Morozov, give Pens Howden; OR Miromanov to play third pairing right defense (big upgrade for Penguins)
Howden , younger, bigger, stronger, better than Accairi; has term
Brown over Ruhweedel…. Huge defensive uptick for Penguins, plus age, size, strength gain
O’Brien v Phillips…. Now that’s a size/grit uptick
Roy v Guentzel…. Loss of offense fir sure, but term with very reasonable Cap hit, younger, waaaay bigger, AND 1st AND above gains, certainly balances out
Kane stole Chelli’s thunder! 😂😂
Chelli put $3000 down to the Hawks to stop Kane.
(some kind of party fund) I guess it didn’t work. 😂
Less than 2 weeks away and every team will have played at least 60 games.
Three teams are at the 55 games played mark Ott, Wpg, Edm; while Van and TB are at the 60 games played mark.
Edmonton has 15 games in 30 days for the month of March. The 10 games in 18 days in April; of them 10 games there is 3 sets of 3 games in 4 days; hopefully no injuries going into the playoffs.
Obviously Ottawa and Winnipeg will be in similar spots.
How frustrating it must be to be an Ottawa or Buffalo fan.
GeorgeO eluded to it the other day, for the past few season both teams go on a heater to season end, fall short, everyone hopes gets up for the next season and it’s wash, rinse and repeat.
Next year.. for sure.
caper, all my recent rants regarding the Senators focused on one theme – a lack of consistency of effort. That’s all we fans want to see from our respective choices of teams to follow – effort. With the kind of coins not too much to ask. they’re hauling in – courtesy of the fan base – that’s not too much to ask.
Judging by Garrioch’s article this morning perhaps that is finally beginning to sink in with this young group
“I asked centre Josh Norris, who has three goals in his last two games, what’s working for the Senators right now?
“Just our play away from the puck is probably the biggest thing,” said Norris, who scored his 16th of the season at 5:48 of the third. “It’s something that we talk a lot about in video. Just playing consistent games and knowing how we have to play every night.
“I know it’s a lot of boring answers, but it’s something that we’ve really drilled into our brains. It’s just complete hockey.”
Amen!
Correction above: With the kind of coin they’re hauling in – courtesy of the fan base – that’s not too much to ask.”
Bruins under 50% in face off wins, it had to be a long time that has happened …Bruins D … Lindholm might have been an overpay, didn’t play well in last years playoffs and it continued into this season, Carlo won’t get engaged because of concussion issues, Forbort blocks shots and that’s it, Grez is to small but Sweeney likes him because he reminds him of himself …Let’s Go Bruins
Would you consider Ullmark,Debrusk,and Lysell for Necas and one of Carolina s top 5 defensemen,not including Burns?
Need to see Lysell play with the big club, all reports he’s improved a lot
Sr, if the D-man is Slavin, then yes.
Joe – I think Carlo place engaged physically, he does lead the team in hits for D, and he battles in the tough areas as much as any other D-man we have.
Carlo is a good player on a reasonable contract IMO.
Ray… your thoughts on Lindholm
Joe, I think Lindholm is a quality all around D-man.
Big, moves really well for big, can handle and move the puck, puts up decent points for a D-first guy and together with Carlo form a formidable shut down pair. First PK unit too. Eats big minutes against the toughest opposition, with most of his zones starts in his own end, and they control possession. BOS is no longer the strong possession team they once were, but that pair is. That is a really telling stat line IMO.
Great trade, great signing.
BOS isn’t where they are in the standings because of their offence. Tending and D under pressure are the reason & Lindholm is a big part of that. Also 2nd to Carlo in +/-. And it needs to emphasized, in a d first, shut down role.
BOS needs what we all know they need; a top C. Problem is, that is really hard to find. Probably won’t be at this TDL either.
Getting a top center is next to impossible exception being a no. 1 D! That s why I throw Necas as a top 6 wing,the next best thing! Carolina is desperate for a goalie and a deep playoff run! Brinda mour s shelf life is coming to an end!
Ray, i agree with your take and would add, I find Carlo has played a more physical game now, then ever before.
Imo that might be, he got tired of constantly getting hit and not hitting back which made him an easy target and lead to all his concussion. He now being more aggressive to make the would be hitter think twice.
Lindholm plays much better when put in a offensive role, we struggled when it’s a primary defensive role.
That’s true Caper, the best Lindholm has played in BOS was when McAvoy was hurt at the start of last year and he was getting more opportunities with the top lines and O zone starts. He was outstanding.
B’s have been getting hemmed in their own end for extended periods of late on this road trip. Often with the bottom 6 forwards on the ice. For the most part they fall back and defend home plate pretty good, but the more time you give up like that, the more pucks find the back of the net. Not having Lindholm might be contributing to that.
I dunno, but as the energy and urgency ramps up, B’s haven’t been able to shift the ice the other way as often, of late.
Think Sis likes playing against the Flyers 55 goals and 128 career points vs them.
I remember the forst game he played at Philadelphia they tried to rough him up bloody him a bit Hatcher.
Big mistake he destroys black and Orange.
should have never done that..
Crosby stealing as many games for us as possible.
D issues abound
Jarry left out to dry on 3, screen and deflection on 2…. Only one he had any chance on
Likely out anc need rebuild; still small chance of getting in (for 3rd in Metro), see my post earlier
Can’t (read shouldn’t) afford Guentzel cap next year
Don’t let the Johnny G thing happen…. Get something
Proposal I put; gets them bigger, stronger, younger, tougher, better defensively
The offensive loss (Guentzel/Accairi/Ruhweedel vs Roy/Howden/Brown) is balanced/compensated for by (1) more balance in offence; (2) less defensive issues leading to less GAs; (3) increased size/strength/grit and younger which should lead to more possession time; and (4) additional depth at C….Roy could be 3rd line centre, allowing Eller to shift to top 6 wing)
8787 Black N Gold here what do you think of these two trades for Jake Guentzel
Edmonton
to Pittsburgh
Ryan McLeod Center 24 on pace for 17 goals he can fly he is young and is making $ 2.1 million this year and next and Edmonton’s number # 1 2024 pick.
Jake Guentzel to Edmonton with some salary retention
or Vegas
Nicolas Hague 24 6ft 6 defenseman young $ 2.3 million 2024 nd Chandler Stephenson 29 pending UFA $2.75 million.
Thoughts